Jacob Rees-Mogg pushes Tory-Reform UK pact amid split at conference
Jacob Rees-Mogg urged the Conservatives to consider an electoral alliance with Reform UK, sparking debate among party members at the Birmingham conference.
During the second day of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Jacob Rees-Mogg revived the notion of an electoral pact with Reform UK, arguing that a formal agreement could be advantageous despite current resistance from senior Conservatives like Kemi Badenoch. He contrasted Reform with the defunct Restore party, describing Nigel Farage as a friend and suggesting Reform occupies a different political space. Conference delegates were divided: some dismissed Reform as a “wannabe Conservative,” while others, citing poor polling, admitted a coalition might be unavoidable.
Polling firm More in Common reported that Reform’s share of the right-bloc vote has risen to roughly equal the Conservatives, and a small swing could dramatically alter seat projections. Analysts warned the competition for right-wing voters will intensify as a general election approaches, with many Tory supporters reluctant to back a Reform partnership.
Why it matters
A Tory-Reform pact could reshape the UK right-wing vote and influence the next general election.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Richard Tice condemns Chinese imports while Reform UK merch made in China is on sale
- Sep 4 National Rally leader Jordan Bardella delivered an English speech at Reform UK’s gathering, emphasizing tighter ties with the British party and joint immigration control.
- Sep 4 Reform UK invited Bardella to speak at its Birmingham conference.
- Sep 6 West Midlands Police have issued a call for the protester to come forward to assist their inquiry.
- Sep 7 The memorandum was signed, moving the idea from conference discussion to a formal agreement.
- Sep 18 Liberal Democrat members say the party has stalled since its 2024 election surge and aim to adopt a more aggressive tone at this weekend’s conference.
- Sep 22 YouGov's latest seat-by-seat model indicates Reform UK would secure just 123 seats if a general election were called today, a sharp drop from a similar poll a year ago. Labour is forecast to lead with 241 seats, followed by the Conservatives at 130, while the Liberal Democrats hold steady at 71. The results point to the first hung parliament since the 2010 coalition. Reform also appears to be losing its high-profile MPs Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman back to the Conservatives. The party's decline follows recent scandals involving alleged off-the-books polling and the suspension of aides Dan Jukes and James Orr, prompting a Met Police investigation.
- Sep 25 A new YouGov poll shows Reform UK level with the Conservatives and behind Labour.
- Sep 27 The party has moved from internal frustration to publicly unveiling a health‑and‑economy platform at its conference.
- Sep 28 Lee Anderson announced a “whip round” to raise funds for the woman struck with a walking stick.
- Oct 1 Nigel Farage warned that Labour leader Keir Burnham's talk of re-joining the EU clashes with his devolution agenda, saying it opens a door for Reform.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Burnham announced that the party will consider both EU relationship options and electoral system changes.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
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